Composition of Offences

(1) The State Government may, by notification, empower any Forest Officer- (a) to accept from any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed an offence punishable under this Act a sum of money by way of compensation for the offence which such person is suspected to have committed; and (b) when any property other than a specified forest produce has been seized as liable to confiscation, to release the same on payment of the value thereof as estimated by such officer. (2) On the payment of such sum of money or such value or both as the case may be to such officer, the suspected person shall be discharged and the property, other than the specified forest produce, if any, seized shall be released and no further proceedings shall be taken against such person or property. (3) A Forest Officer shall not be empowered under this section unless he is a Forest Officer of a rank not inferior to that of a Divisional Forest Officer, and the sum of money accepted as compensation under Clause (a) of Sub-section (1) shall in no case exceed the sum of rupees.